El-Rufai Wrong On Jonathan’s Oct 1 Spending – FG

The Federal Government has countered a claim by the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, that the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan spent N64bn on Independence Day celebrations between 2011 and 2015.

El-Rufai, in a Facebook post on October 1, had hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly budgeting N70m for this year’s Independence Day anniversary celebration.

But in contrast to el-Rufai’s claim, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, in response to a Freedom of Information request by BudgIT Nigeria, noted that the Jonathan administration had spent N332.6m for the anniversary celebrations.

It further noted that N1.7bn was spent on the country’s 2010 golden jubilee celebration and N138,138,000 on the centenary honours awards in 2014.

In the letter titled ‘Independence Day celebration/centenary actual expenditure from 2010 to 2015,’ the Director, Finance and Accounts, in the Permanent Secretary’s office, Mohammed Garba, said, “With reference to your letter dated 2nd October, 2015 on the above subject matter, it is stated as follows:

“Please note that in 2013, Mr President approved the sum of N223,800,000 for the 53rd Independence Celebration, only N45,000,000 was released to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The sum of N138,138,000 was released for centenary honours awards.”